Background: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) using the Single-Port system (SPS) relies on electrocautery, limiting its applications in the upper aerodigestive tract. We evaluated the feasibility of a CO2 delivery system for the SPS.
Methods: Otolaryngology residents performed a cutting exercise using a handheld CO2 laser and participated in a cadaveric oropharyngeal dissection using the SPS with monopolar cautery (SP + EC) and CO2 laser (SP + CO2 ). Residents completed the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire to evaluate these techniques.
Results: The same laser fiber was used for all combined dissections. The handheld CO2 laser, SP + EC, and SP + CO2 demonstrated similar SUS scores. On individual domain scores, SP + CO2 received less favorable ratings compared to the handheld CO2 laser for complexity, integration, and cumbersome experience (p < 0.05). On subgroup stratification, less TORS experience was associated with worse SUS scores.
Conclusion: SP-guided CO2 laser delivery is a viable alternative to electrocautery in robotic surgery, and should be considered when performing TORS.
Keywords: CO2laser; single-port da Vinci; transoral robotic surgery.
© 2023 The Authors. The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.